- Title: Swap deal completed between Hezbollah and Nusra front
- Date: 3rd August 2017
- Summary: HAMA, SYRIA (AUGUST 3, 2017) (REUTERS) BUSES CARRYING NUSRA FIGHTERS AND REFUGEES ARRIVING BUSES PARKED VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF THE BUSES AND STANDING, TALKING OUTSIDE AMBULANCES PARKED VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF THE BUSES AND STANDING, TALKING OUTSIDE VARIOUS OF RED CRESCENT VEHICLES ARRIVING RED CRESCENT VEHICLE CARRYING HEZBOLLAH FIGHTER SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE BUSES CARRYING NUSRA FIGHTERS AND REFUGEES DEPARTING FOR IDLIB
- Embargoed: 17th August 2017 21:59
- Keywords: Syria Lebanon Hezbollah fighters arriving in Hama prisoner swap deal al-Nusra
- Location: HAMA, SYRIA
- City: HAMA, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SLTJD3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Buses carrying Syrian militants and refugees arrived at Hama, Syria on Thursday (August 3) completing the swap deal between Hezbollah and the Nusra Front.
Around 7,000 Syrians, including Nusra militants and refugees, were given safe passage as part of a ceasefire deal that also involves the handover of captured Hezbollah fighters.
After the swap was completed the Nusra fighters and refugees then departed for rebel held Idlib in Syria, and Hezbollah fighters headed on to Lebanon.
The transfer echoes deals struck within Syria in which Damascus has shuttled rebels and civilians to Idlib and other opposition areas. Such evacuations have helped President Bashar al-Assad recapture several rebel bastions over the past year, and are criticised by the opposition as amounting to the forced transfer of populations seen as sympathetic to the opposition.
The ceasefire took effect last week, just days after Lebanese Hezbollah and the Syrian army launched an offensive to drive Nusra Front and other Sunni Muslim militants from their last foothold along the Syria-Lebanon border. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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